Waste receptacle



y 30, 1968 w. J. MCALLISTER ETA!- WASTE RECEPTACLE 3 Sheets-Shea: 1

Filed July 18, l96

llnll July 30, 1968 w, J, MCALLISTER ET AL 3,394,832

WASTE RECEPTACLE Filed July 18, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheen 2 IA/VENI'OES. Will/4M I Mam/nae VIM/1V 4. IFOW/V MMM/Www July 30. 1968 w. J. MOALUSTER ET AL 3,394,832

WASTE RECEPTACLE Filed July 18, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,394,832 WASTE RECEPTACLE William J. McAllister, Arlington Heights, 1111., and John A. Keown, Worthington, Ohio, assignors to William J. McAllister, Arlington Heights, Ill.

Filed July 18, 1966, Ser. No. 566,106 Claims. (Cl. 220-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A waste receptacle including a body having an open upper end, a hollow base member having an internal cavity complementally dimensioned to receive snugly therein the lower portion of a body and having an access opening for introducing material to weight the base member, a top closure having an opening for providing access to the interior of the body and a door hinged upon the top closure and normally biased to close the opening with the top closure being detachabl-y latched to the body.

This invention relates to waste receptacles and, more particularly, to novel waste receptacles which are particularly suitable for use outdoors.

In such applications it is necessary for the waste receptacle to be sufficiently durable to withstand the elements. Presently used waste receptacles either are built of metal which is sufliciently heavy so as not to be blown over when subjected to unusual wind or rain or of lightweight materials secured by mechanical means to prevent them from being blown or pushed over. Additionally, the use of metal receptacles which must be painted in outdoor applications eventually results in the wearing or chipping off of the paint thereby allowing rust to form. The weight of a metal receptacle also requires that an additional receptacle within the metal one be used to serve actually as the waste receptacle.

Waste receptacles formed of lightweight materials such as plastics are presently secured by some external means to prevent being blown or pushed over. For example, presently used lightweight receptacles are fastened to a weighted surface such as concrete by means of clips or are secured to a stanchion or post. The use of any of these external means lessens the mobility of the receptacle as well as increases the complexity of the receptacle unit itself. Many waste receptacles do not have adequate provision for preventing rain, snow and the like from getting into the interior of the receptacle and collecting there. Also, the receptacles allow moisture to stand under the receptacle and thereby cause corrosion.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel waste receptacle which is lightweight yet is capable of withstanding heavy winds and the like without being blown over or being otherwise pushed over.

Another object is to provide a novel waste receptacle which is designed so as to minimize the possibility of precipitation either collecting within the interior of the receptacle or underneath the base of the waste receptacle.

A still further object is to provide a novel waste receptacle which is capable of being easily moved from place to place as is desired.

A further object is to provide a novel waste receptacle from which refuse may easily and simply be removed and the receptacle thereafter reassembled for reuse.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a waste receptacle embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the receptacle of FIGURE 1 With a portion broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the receptacle of FIGURE 1 with a portion broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the top closure of the waste receptacle of this invention taken along offset line 66 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross section taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 3.

While the following description will be directed to one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that there is no intention to so limit the invention. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The novel waste receptacle of this invention comprises, in general, a body having an open upper end, a base member having an internal cavity complementally dimensioned to receive therein the lower portion of the body, a top closure having an opening therein providing access to the interior of the body, a door hinged upon the top closure to close the opening and means to latch the top closure to the body. The base member is hollow and access to its interior is provided for introducing material therein to weight it.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown, the waste receptacle comprises, in general, a body 12, a base 14 and a top closure 16.

As can best be seen by referring to FIGURES 2, 3, and 7, the body 12 is of rectangular cross-section which can be used directly as a waste receptacle or to receive an inserted bag into which waste can be placed to facilitate its subsequent removal. The lower portion 18 of the body 12 is recessed inwardly, on all four sides, as shown, for reception within the base 14.

To receive the body 12 the base 14 is provided with an internal cavity which is complementally fashioned to receive snugly therein the lower portion 18 of the body 12. The side walls 20 are provided with tapered recesses and the lower portions 22 are slanted outwardly as shown at 24. The lower portion 18 of the body 12 has complementally shaped bosses 26 that extend outwardly from the contiguous portions of the side walls of the lower portion 18. In position, the body 12 rests in the base 14 with the bosses 26 positioned in a latching engagement with the tapered recesses 22 as generally indicated at 24.

In accordance with one feature of this invention the interior 28 of the base 14 is hollow so that sand or other similar material can be introduced therein through an access opening 30 to increase the weight of the base 14 to provide a stabilizing effect against the wind or any other force which would tend to upset the waste receptacle. The opening is adapted to be closed by an appropriate plug 32 to retain the weighting material.

Another feature of this invention lies in the provision for preventing precipitation from collecting underneath the waste receptacle. Thus, the base 14 is formed with a central drain opening 34. The bottom wall 36 is arched upward slightly from the outer edges toward its center and is provided with diagonal upwardly-arched ribs 38' which extend from the central drain opening 34 outwardly to the corners of the base 14. The ribs 38, in addition, provide reinforcing or strengthening for the bottom of the base 14 to minimize downward bowing of the outer bottom wall 36 as well as providing drain-off channels for water from opening 34. While the use of a plurality of projecting ribs 38 is preferred, it has been found, particularly for use indoors, that a single rib 38 is sufficient to provide adequate drainage.

Another feature of this invention decreases the likelihood of any precipitation getting into the interior of the body 12. As can best be seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 6, top closure 16 is, at its lowermost extremity, of rectangular cross section with the two side walls 40 extending upwardly and inwardly and merging smoothly into its top wall 42. The end walls 44 extend upwardly and outwardly. Each of the end walls 44 has a large opening 45 therein through which access to the interior of the receptacle is provided. Adjacent the upper corners of the opening 45, horizontally apertured bosses 46 are provided which receive the outer ends of a hinge pin 48. The pin 48 is carried adjacent the upper edge of a door 50. The door is fashioned to conform to the shape of the end wall opening 45 and thus extends inwardly and downwardly from the pin 48.

The outward spacing of the upper portion of the opening with respect to the lower portion provides a construction whereby the pivoted door 50 falls by gravity from an open position into a fully closed position in which a lower flange 52 on the door 50 engages flange 54 that extends inwardly from and along the lower edge of the end walls 44 of the top closure 16. The pivoted door 50 is thus normally biased to close the opening 45.

As can best be seen upon reference to FIGURES 3, 4, and 6, there is another feature of this invention which provides the body 12 and the top closure 16 with means definining juxtaposed surfaces indicated at 61 and 62 for supporting the top closure 16 upon the body 12 and for preventing relative endwise movement thereof with respect to the body. As shown, the end walls 56 of the body 12 terminate in outwardly turned lips 58. The lips 58 provide reinforcement for the upper edge portions of the body end walls 56 and have rounded corners which merge with the side walls of the body 12. The lower edges of the end walls 44 of the top closure 16 have depending skirts 60 which are positioned adjacent the interior of the end walls 56. The horizontal portions of the end walls 44 of the top closure 16, which are adjacent the depending skirts 60, rest upon the upwardly facing juxtaposed surfaces 61 and 62 of the lips 58, thereby carrying the weight of the top closure 16. The depending skirts 60 terminate in an inwardly facing channel 61 to provide additional reinforcing, Also, the depending skirts 60 are recessed inwardly from each side of the end walls 44 so that the depending skirts 60 fit snugly between the side Walls 64 of the body 12.

Some users of the instant receptacle may wish to utilize an auxiliary waste container such as a disposable plastic or paper bag (not shown) to facilitate trash removal from the container. To this end such a container, e.g., a thin polyethylene bag can be placed within the body 12. Engagement, between the two juxtaposed surfaces 61 and 62 can be utilized to grip the edges of such an inserted bag. Moreover, this engagement tends to discourage entry of the water into the interior of the body 12.

To latch the top closure 16 to the body 12, the side walls 64 of the body 12 terminate in flanges 65 which are first turned inwardly, as indicated at 66, and are then extended upwardly as shown at 67 and then outwardly as at 68 to define outwardly-opening horizontal channels 70. Centrally of the horizontal channels 70, there are provided upward boss-like extensions 72 that define enlarged openings into which a user can insert his fingers and thereby obtain a grip on the top closure side walls 40 for lifting the top closure 16 from the body 12. Along the lower edges of the side walls 40 of the top closure 16 there are partial flanges 74 which extend horizontally inward. The partial flanges 74 are centrally interrupted at 76 to thereby provide along the lower side edges of the top closure 16 two inwardly projecting ledges which are spaced apart a distance substantially corresponding to the outer dimension of the boss-like extensions 72 of the body flanges 65.

Thus, when the top closure 16 is to be placed on top of body 12, the user, with his fingers grasping the lower edge of one of the side walls 40 centrally thereof, places the partial flange 74 of the other side of wall 40 in the corresponding outwardly opening horizontal channel and adjacent the outward portion of the flange 65, Using the thus positioned partial flange as a hinge, the user lowers the top closure 16, pulls the partial flange 74 outwardly so that the flange can pass over the body flange 65. The user then releases the body flange 65 so that it can spring back into the channel 70 thereby latching the top closure 16 in place.

To remove the top closure 16 from the body 12 the user grasps the lower edge of one of the side walls centrally thereof and pulls the corresponding partial flange 74 outwardly while raising the partial flange 74 past the body flange 65. Removal is completed by withdrawing the partial flange 74 on the other side of the top closure out of the channel 70. The enlarged channel portion in the handle area provides access to the inner central portion of the top closures side Walls for the users fingers when latching and removal is to be effected.

In order to allow the body 12 to be easily moved, the uppermost portion of the flange 65 is turned horizontally inward at 78 to provide the user with a finger hold to grasp the body 12.

The body 12, the base 14 and the top closure 16 can be made of any material which can withstand weathering and is lightweight yet is durable. The material should have suflicient flexibility to allow slight distention so that the top closure can be easily placed in position or removed. Linear polyethylene has been found to adequately meet the above requirements.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a waste container embodying the functions of the present invention provides a durable, lightweight receptacle for trash and other waste which is particularly adapted to be used outdoors. The novel construction provides means to increase its base weight yet does not reduce its mobility so that even strong winds will not upset it and thus impair its usefulness. The novel construction minimizes the possibility that any precipitation will get into either the interior of the body or will collect in or underneath the base. Further, the construction of the top closure, in addition to minimizing the possibility of entry of any precipitation into the interior of the body, provides, in combination with the body, means for securely retaining the top closure in place on the body yet facilitates removal by a user to permit emptying of collected waste.

We claim as our invention:

1. A waste receptacle comprising, in combination a body having a side wall, an open upper end and a recessed lower portion, a hollow base having an internal cavity complementally dimensioned to receive snugly therein the recessed portion of said body, said base having an access opening for introducing material therethrough to weight said base, a closure for said access opening, the walls of said internal cavity of said base being provided with tapered recesses, the lower portions of the walls of said cavity being slanted outwardly, said recessed portion having complementally shaped bosses extending outwardly from the recessed portion to snugly fit within said tapered recesses, a top closure having an opening therein for providing access to the interior of said body, a door hinged upon said top closure and normally biased to close said opening and means for latching said top closure to said body.

2. A waste receptacle comprising, in combination, a body having end and side walls and an open upper end, a hollow base having an internal cavity complementally dimensioned to receive snugly therein the lower portion of said body, said base having an access opening therein for introducing material therethrough to weight said base member and a plug complementally dimensioned and positioned to close said access opening, a top closure having end and side walls and an opening in at least one of said end walls for providing access to the interior of said body, a door hinged upon said top closure and normally biased to close said opening, first means on said body and top closure respectively defining juxtaposed surfaces for supporting said top closure upon said body and for preventing relative endwise movement thereof with respect to said body, said first means including horizontally extending lips on said body end walls and depending skirts on said top closure end walls having horizontal downwardly facing portions adapted to be positioned upon said body lips to carry the weight of the top closure, and second means on said body and top closure for latching the same together with said juxtaposed surfaces in engagement, said second means including said body side walls terminating in flanges first turned inwardly, then extended upwardly and then outwardly to define outwardly-opening horizontal channels and said top closure side walls having partial flanges extending horizontally inward which are positioned to engage in a latching relationship said body flanges.

3. The waste receptacle of claim 2 wherein centrally of said horizontal channel there are upward boss-like extensions whereby the user can insert his fingers to obtain a grip on said body to separate it from said base and said partial flanges are centrally interrupted to define a pair of inwardly projecting ledges spaced apart a distance corresponding to the laterial dimension of said boss-like extensions and said body flanges.

4. A waste receptacle comprising, in combination, a body having end and side walls, an open upper end and a recessed lower portion, a hollow base having an internal cavity dimensioned to receive snugly therein the recessed portion of said body, the walls of said internal cavity of said base being provided with tapered recesses, the lower portions of the walls of said cavity being slanted outwardly, said recessed portion having complementally shaped bosses extending outwardly from the recessed portion to snugly fit within said tapered recesses, said base having an access opening therein for introducing material therethrough to weight said base member, a plug complementally dimensioned and positioned to close said access opening, a top closure having end and side walls and an opening in at least one of said end walls for pro viding access to the interior of said body, a door hinged upon said top closure and normally biased to close said opening, first means on said body and top closure respectively defining juxtaposed surfaces for supporting said top closure upon said body and for preventing relative endwise movement thereof with respect to said body, and second means on said body and top closure for latching the same together with said juxtaposed surfaces in engagement.

5. A waste receptacle comprising, in combination, a body having end and side walls, an open upper end and a recessed lower portion, a hollow base having an internal cavity complementally dimensioned to receive snugly therein the recessed portion of said body, said base having an access opening therein for introducing material therethrough to weight said base member and a plug complementally dimensioned and positioned to close said access opening, the Walls of said internal cavity of said base being provided with tapered recesses, the lower portions of the Walls of said cavity being slanted outwardly, said recessed portion having complementally shaped bosses extending outwardly from the recessed portion to snugly fit within said tapered recesses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,380,149 5/1921 Kappel 220-68 2,813,509 11/1957 Bruno. 2,936,926 5/ 1960 Miller 220-68 XR 3,096,900 7/ 1963 Breneman 220- XR 3,219,227 11/ 1965 Deisner 22031 3,306,486 2/1967 Martino 220--1 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,204,779 1/1960 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. G. E. LOWRANCE, Assistant Examiner. 

